Sécretariat de MED Forum
EcoMediterrània: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 643, 3r. 08010 Barcelone. Espagne.
Tél. +43 93 412 43 09 Fax: +34 93 412 46 22 E-mail: medforum@pangea.org www.MEDForum.org

Selon les accords de l’Assemblée Générale de MED Forum, l’information permanente aux membres est un des axes fondamentaux de l’activité du Réseau. Dès ce numéro de MED Info vous recevrez régulièrement toutes les informations, quel que soit le genre, qui peuvent vous aider à développer votre activité. Ce bulletin servira aussi de tableau d’affichage où n’importe quel membre de MED Forum pourra y annoncer ses activités ou informer de son organisation. Nous vous invitons à envoyer les informations qui puissent représenter un intérêt pour les membres du Réseau. N’oubliez pas que ces renseignements parviendront à plus de 80 ONG de 24 pays et à de nombreux organismes internationaux.
Pour recevoir MED Info les seuls réquisits nécessaires sont : être membre de MED Forum et disposer d’une adresse de courrier électronique (E-mail). Si votre organisation ne dispose pas d’e-mail, fournissez-nous l’adresse d’une entité collaboratrice ou d’une université jusqu’à ce que vous disposiez d’un courrier électronique propre.
Si vous vous voyez dans l’impossibilité de nous fournir une adresse, nous vous serions très reconnaissant de le communiquer le plus tôt possible au Secrétariat de MED Forum.

Rafael Madueño
Secrétaire Général

MED Info: para disponer de mejor información

Según los acuerdos de la Asamblea General de MED Forum la información permanente a los socios es uno de los ejes fundamentales de la actividad de la Red. A partir de este número de MED Info recibiréis regularmente todo tipo de información que os pueda ser útil para desarrollar vuestra actividad. Así mismo servirá de tablón de anuncios donde cualquier miembro de MED Forum podrá anunciar sus actividades o informar de su organización. Os invitamos a enviar aquellas informaciones que puedan ser de interés para los miembros de la Red. Pensad que esa información llegará a más de 80 ONG de 24 países y a numerosos organismos internacionales.
Para recibir MED Info sólo es necesario ser miembro de MED Forum y disponer de dirección de correo electrónico (E-mail). Si vuestra organización no dispone de E-mail, facilitarnos una dirección de una entidad amiga o de una universidad hasta que vosotros podáis disponer de uno.
Si esto no fuera posible, agradeceríamos que lo comunicaran tan pronto como fuera posible a la Secretaría de MED Forum.

Rafael Madueño
Secretario General

According to the agreements of the MED Forum General Assembly, the permanent information of our members is one of the fundamental guidelines of the Network’s activity. From now on, beginning with this issue of MED Info, you will regularly recieve all types of information that could be useful for you in developing your activiities. It will also serve as a bulletin board in which any member of MED Forum may announce its activities or offer information on its organization. We invite you to send us any information that could be of interest to the other members of the Network. Keep in mind that this information will reach more than 80 NGOs from 24 countries, apart from numerous international organizations.
To receive MED Info, the only requirements are that you be a member of MED Forum and that you have access to e-mail. If your organization does not have e-mail, you may forward the e-mail address of an entity friend or a University until you have your own e-mail.
If this is not possible, we would appreciate your communicating this fact as soon as possible to the MED Forum Secretariat.

Rafael Madueño
Secretary General

The campaign "The Mediterranean Green Traffic Light", sponsored by the European Commission DG XI, will be developed in various places along the coastline of Italy, Malta, France, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Spain, and it is expected that it will also be undertaken in more towns of these and other countries of the Mediterranean Basin.
To carry it out, we have designed diverse means in which to enhance a pro-environmentalist awareness and attitude among the social agents that inhabit the Mediterranean coastline.

Pamphlet of free services
It offers basic information on the functions and values of the main natural coastal environments. It is accompanied by a questionnaire that helps citizens to evaluate, from 0 to 10, the principal factors that cause the environmental degradation of the natural systems of their coastal strip.
The result is expressed by means of a traffic light that is green if the environment is in good condition, yellow if it is normal, or red if it is bad, depending on how each participant perceives the state of his/her coastal zone.

Poster of free services
It serves as a key instrument in disseminating the campaign, and its contents allow us to offer basic information on the functions and values of the natural environments of the coastline.

Handbook on good practices for the conservation and improvement of the natural environments of the coastline that includes suggestions and proposals
It is aimed at all the social agents that live or develop their activities on the coastline.
The Mediterranean Green Traffic Light seeks to act as an indicator of the environmental quality associated with the conservation of coastal zones, and it has been created to serve as an instrument capable of promoting the involvement of society in the conservation of these spaces.

Next 15-16 April 1999 it will take place in Stuttgart the Third Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs. That is the meeting of the ministers from the 15 countries members of the European Union and from the 12 partners countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Turkey and Malta). It is the third step after the Barcelona Conference and its Barcelona Declaration (November 1995) and the Second Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Malta (1997). As in the previous conferences, Stuttgart also wants to assemble in a civil forum representatives of civil society. In this occasion the civil forum will be divided in different sectorial issues. So it will take place, among others, an Enviromental Forum on April 14-15.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation (linked to the Deutsch Green Party) asked for organising this Enviromental Forum to the European Commission (DG I). Then it demanded the support and collaboration from the Mediterranean NGO Networks and from the International NGOs that are working in the Mediterranean. As you know seven organisations working in the Mediterranean have created the "Comité de Suivi" (CDS): BEE, ENDA, FOE, MED Forum, MIO, RAED and WWF. The Heinrich Böll Foundation asked to the "Comité de Suivi" to jointly implement the project.

The idea is to organise seven round tables in the South of the Mediterranean before the Enviromental Forum in Stuttgart: Algeria (MED Forum), Tunisia (WWF and FOE?), Egypt (RAED and MIO?), Amman (FoEME), Tel-Aviv (HBF), Istanbul (HBF and WWF?), Rabat (ENDA).

This is MED Forum’s proposal of participants to the Environmental Forum in Stuttgart (14-15 April) following the criteria summarised by the "Comité de Suivi" and completed with other proposals from BEE, WWF and FOE. At this moment this list is provisional.

MED Forum idea is that we have to pay for NGOs attendance because it is mainly a civil forum. Other participants (from governmental organizations and official bodies) can afford their expenses by themselves because their organisations are wealthier than NGOs.

1) LIST ONE (NON-EU) (12 x 3 = 36)

- MOROCCO: ENDA Maghreb*, ASMAPE, A.P.E. Wilaya de Tétouan, Choula.
- ALGERIA: MEA (Mouvement Ecologique Algérien - Zohir SEKKAL), TOUIZA.
- TUNISIA: ATPNE, APNEK, Les Amis des Oiseaux, Tunis Office WWF.
- EGYPT: RAED*, FEDA, SOEP (Social Organization for Environmental Protection in Fayoum).
- ISRAEL: SPNI, CVI
- LEBANON: LINE, SPNL, GreenLine.
- WEST BANK AND GAZA: PHG (Palestinian Hydrology Group).
- JORDAN: The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, Jordan Society for Sustainable Development.
- SIRIA: ?
- TURKEY: TURMEPA, TEMA, DHKD.
- MALTE: ECO-The Malta Ecological Foundation, SSNC, Moviment ghall Ambjent.
- CYPRUS: Ecological Movement of Cyprus, Federation of Environmental and Ecological Organizations of Cyprus, FoE Cyprus.
- REGIONAL NGO: FoEME*

(*Members of the "Comité de Suivi" = 3)

2) LIST TWO (EU) (15)

Members of the "Comité de Suivi" (= 4):
- WWF (Paloma AGRASOT)
- EEB (John Hontelez)
- MED Forum (Rafael Madueño)
- MIO (Michael SCOULLOS)

Others:
- CLAPE-LR (France: organiser of the meetting in Montpellier)
- EcoMediterrània (Spain: organiser of Mediterranean Enviromental Forums)
- Ecologistas en Acción (one of the greater umbrella organisations in Spain, but not only on Mediterranean issues).
- CRIC (Italy).
- DNF (Denmark)
- Nea Ecologia (Greece)
- WWF EPO (Mikel Insausti)
- Climate Network Europe
- European transport Network T&E
- DNR (Germany)

- MAP, Blue Plan, MCSD, METAP, etc.
- Other governmental representatives and official bodies.
- Media representatives.
- EuroMed Parliamentary Forum, EuroMed Internet Forum, FEMISE, etc.

On 15 January, 199, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Lamberto Dini, was be in Fiesole (Florence) for the presentation of the Mediterranean Project, an initiative of the European University Institute for the study and research of themes concerning the Mediterranean and the relationship between Europe and the countries of the south shore and the Near Middle East.

The project, which will form part of the activities of the Robert Schuman Research Centre directed by Professor Yves Mény, proposes to make the European University Institute the centre of research carried out on Mediterranean themes throughout Europe. This research was carried out in the framework of two chairs: the first one, already in its initial phase, dedicated to the study of the legal, political and social aspects of the relationships between Europe and the various countries under consideration; the second, involving the study of the economic systems and financial flows of the area.

• New trainees for North-South Centre

The North-South Centre’s Executive Council approved on 24 October 1998, the Centre’s Programme of Activities for 1999-2001. This programme contains many challenging projects and activities that will require support from active and enthusiastic trainees who share a sense of commitment to strengthen international co-operation for sustainable development. The Lisbon-based Centre is especially looking for candidates to assist the following programmes:

• Global education (for its database on sustainable development education and related on-line info services for the Centre’s web site)
• Human Rights
• Transmediterranean programme.

Centre cover a period of three months (in some cases extended to 6 months) and are remunerated at subsistence level.

Candidates interested should fluent either in English or French, with an adequate knowledge of the other language.

Le prix 1999 a deux catégories, dotée chacune 3.500 euros,

• Prix Eurosite Natura 2000
  Site désigné Zone de Protection Spéciale au 1er. Avril 1999.

• Prix de Gestion Eurosite
  Site non désigné Natura 2000

Eurosite est le réseau des organismes pour la gestion du patrimoine naturel européen, bénéficiant du soutien de la Commission Européenne.

5. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NGO: ALBANIAN ALPINE GEOGRAPHIC CLUB "TOMORI"
BY: Prof. Dr. Naçip MEÇAP. President.

The first Albanian NGO is created on 1991, after the socio-political changes in our country. Step by step, other new NGOs started their free and independent activity. So Albanian NGOs can be counted as some of the youngest NGOs in the world. Nevertheless, they develop fruitfull activities in the field of environmental protection. On the main of their activities have picked in Albanian Mediterranean ecosystems, as one of the most important region by ecological and economical point of view.
The Alpine Geographic Club "Tomori" is one of the main Albanian NGOs working on the Mediterranean ecosystems in the field of geomorphology, demography, eco-tourism... and have been a important partner on Med-Wet 2, for the development of Kune-Vain Lagoon Systems on Adriatic Sea. Its expertise is coolaborating also with international subjects on GIS and EIS. Another very important field where Alpine Geographic Club "Tomori" is contributing on the protection of Mediterranean Coast, is Environmental Assessment and Planning. This NGO has prepared a project proposal about specific ecosystems on Adriatic Coast, which will analyse the sensitivity of some very important Mediterranean Ecosystems. A very important point is also, the CEEA (Centre for Environmental Education in Albania) a branch of Alpine Geographic Club "Tomori", which is the first Albanian NGOs working on Environmental Education. It has begin with education of Students in High school, and soon, will contribute on training of trainers, training of users and actors on the "job"... to improve the know-how level of local expertise and decrease the differences between national and regional/local expertise. A very interesting activity of CEEA is the construction of the nearly-natural zone with forest, natural fruit trees, barriers to control the erosion on the slopes, as well as an Educational Centre, in Bence, Tepelena district, which will be used as an important area, for scientific and training purposes. The first step of this project is finished, and we are looking for fund resources to go on, in the other steps.

• World Business Council for Sustainable Development
  www.wbcds.ch

The World Business for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a coalition of 125 international companies united by a shared commitment to the environment and to the principles of economic growth and sustainable development.
The WBCSD was formed in January 1995 trough a merger between the Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCDS) in Geneva and the World Industry Council for the Environment (WICE), an initiative of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in Paris.
Their main aim is to develop close co-operation between business, government and all other organizations concerned with the environment and sustainable development.

The Resource Renewal Institute is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to support innovative environmental management in the United States and the worldwide. RRI’s main role is to promote the implementation of green plans, comprehensive strategies designed to achieve sustainability.
In this web site we can find the Environmental Atlas link. Is an Internet-based tool for researching environmental policy worl-wide. It is possible to view information about the country’s environmental policies and other information.

The 1995 Barcelona Conference produced a number of proposals for action, one of which was the organisations of a seminar on prospects for the development of a partnership between the European Union and the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean. Following the seminar which was held in 1996, a special issue of Maghreb-Machreck was published. This takes stock of the relationship between Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean on the eve of the introduction of the single currency, grouping together texts produced by a network of researches working on the economies of the Mediterranean and the Arab World (EMMA).

This yearbook aims to demonstrate the status of collaboration on sustainable development, the main obstacles to effective international solutions and how to overcome them. It assesses the achievements and shortcomings of international co-operation and helps the reader distinguish between rhetoric and reality.

Available from: Earthscan Publications, 120, Pentoville Road, London N1 9JN, United Kingdom.
Fax. +44 171 278 1142; E-mail: earthinfo@earthscan.co.uk; Web site: www.earthscan.co.uk

Conférence internationale sur la conservation et l’utilisation soutenable de la forêt mediterranéenne.
Malaga, 28, 29 et 30 octobre 1998

Intervention du Professor Zohir Sekkal, Président de MED Forum, panel sur :

C’est dans les zones sèches et arides que l’on remarque aec le plus d’intensité le róle des arbres, de la forêt et des espaces forestiers dans la sécurite alimentaire. La forêt joue un rôle décisif dans la lutte contre la désertification. La fôret disparaît sous l’effet anthropique lié au profit, à la pauvreté et à la mauvaise gestion.
En dépit des efforts nationaux et internationaux la surface des sols dégrades ne fait qu’augmentar ainsi que le flux migratoire de « réfugiés environnementaux ».
Des instruments internationaux pertinents tels contre la Désertification (1994), notamment, peuvent approfondir les axes de coppération entre les deux rives de la Méditerranée. La question des forêts doit être comprise comme un thème transectoriel qui touche tant la forêt et l’agriculture que la forêt et le développement rural, la forêt et la satisfaction des besoins de populations et enfin la forêt et la désertification.
Il fault donc toute une gamme d’actions pour épauler et renforcer les plantations d’arbres.
Malheureusement, les réalisations, dans les pays de la rive sud méditerranéenne en particuler, restent faibles et les techniques mises en oesuvre encore mal maîtrisées. A cet effet, la coopération transméditerranéenne a un rôle important à jouer dans ce domaine. En prêtant son concours aux pays des régions affectées elle peut non seulement permettre d’augmentar les surfaces boisées ou reboisées, d’améliorer les techniques utilisées dont celles qui consistent à prévenir les incindies des forêts, rendre accessible les informations pour planifier, programmer, suivre l’évolution des ressources forestières et les valoriser et enfin aider à améliorer le fonctionnement des structures chargées du secteur en reforcant ses capacités techniques et de gestion. L’efficacité de la coopération dépendra aussi de l’effort qui sera déployé pour associer les populations concernées et les ONG.
C’est cette notion d’ensemble qui offre les meilleures perspectives pour l’avenir.

Report on the U.N Desertification of the parties
Dakar, Senegal (December’98)

BY: Michael Modinos. INIER and NEA Ecologia

The event can be characterised as a success. It was attended by over 1000 government representatives and over 200 NGOs, most of them from black-african countries. There has been a continual inflow of information between the official session, the Science and Technology Committee and the NGOs parallel events. A number of "regional" meetings have also taken place, organised along the lines of the government and the NGO level. The European Union has succeeded in having a common official strategy at the government level, while there has been a weak European NGO representation.

The Conference can be characterised as one belonging to the general line of post-Rio Conferences. Some general remarks as to its conclusions and overall directions, which have significant relevance to MED’s Forum work can be summed up as follows: